2024VSTE Annual Conference

Are you tired of the old ways of having students present information? Do you feel like the normal student led presentations are weighing down their learning and your instruction? Are you ready for a more innovative, student-led approach? Then look no further than the Panel Project! As educators, a staple of our formative and summative assessment repertoire is the presentation. Throughout the years, we have seen new, and innovative ways to conduct these projects that have increased rigor, differentiation, and student choice. However, educators always seem to be looking for a new port in which to drop anchor, and the next innovative idea to take ahold of. In enters the Panel Project. Student success, the anchor of the Panel Project, grows from Student Control, Differentiation, Rigor, and Practical Application of skills, the main components of the Panel Project. In this session we will explain each of the components: how the Panel Project can be set up to give students varying amounts of control, from very little to complete, and how this encourages student engagement and ownership; how you can easily differentiate this project for every type of student in your classroom, so that all students become part of a team working towards a larger goal.; how the rigor found in each section of the project combines to allow students to reach for new heights; and how this project takes on new meaning for students as they play a purposeful role in the presentation. This session will also include an explanation on how the Panel Project idea came about, the progression of the project from a once-yearly endeavor to an anchor of our assessment and review practices, and how we foresee implementing this practice in the future. In addition, we will provide resources to help you create your own project and discuss ways this project could be used in different content areas and across different grade levels. So, are you ready to innovate your practices and join the discussion?

This proposal outlines the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a foundational tool to enhance educational success. By leveraging AL, we aim to improve learners' efficiency, personalize their learning experiences, and streamline administrative processes. This will ultimately lead to better educational outcomes for students and more effective resource management for institutions.

In this globally connected world, are board games a thing of the past? I think not. Getting together with friends or family for "Game Night" still has an appeal for most people. Within the walls of our classrooms, the most engaging activities consist of student choice, innovation and a little competition. There's never been a better time to dive into bringing gamified learning to your class and, in my opinion, Genially templates hold the key to this endeavor. Participants will use Genially Templates to create digital board games to play as a whole group, with teams, or as a station. The games may be coordinated with any content and any standard. Participants should have a content area and standard in mind for their design. By the end of this make and take session, participants will have a completed game ready to play next year.

Join an elementary school Instructional Technology Specialist for an engaging session about portable STEM carts and their transformative impact on student learning. Topics include how to curate and fund materials, how to integrate content areas with STEM, and maximize opportunities for students to build the skills of a VA Graduate.